Environmental

Tackling global environmental challenges together 

Key environmental challenges 

• Climate change: Global temperatures in 2022 were 0.89°C above the average baseline figures 1951–1980. Warming above 1.5°C risks further sea level rises, extreme weather, biodiversity loss and species extinction, as well as food scarcity and worsening health and poverty for millions of people worldwide. 
• Fossil fuels: Coal, oil and gas burned for energy are non-renewable and currently provide around 80% of the world's energy. Emissions from fossil fuels are the main cause of global warming. In 2018, 89% of global CO₂ emissions came from fossil fuels and industry. 
• Deforestation: Every year 10 million hectares of forests are lost through deforestation. As well as reducing the environment’s ability to absorb excess CO₂ created by human activities, deforestation actually adds to CO₂ levels. The deforestation problem is worsened by the hotter, drier weather caused by climate change that helps to create conditions that extend forest fire seasons.  
• Pollution: Global pollution, such as plastics in the oceans (8 million tonnes are dumped every year) and the ingress of microplastics into the ecosystem, is supplemented by regional issues such as the pollution of land and fresh water supplies from human activities.

Environmental initiatives at Konica Minolta 

Climate change and climate mitigation 

• A commitment to net zero. For example, we've committed to becoming net zero by 2050, driving our global CO₂ emissions to zero compared to fiscal year 2005 levels in procurement, production, distribution, sales and service and product use.  
• Switching to renewable energy to reduce CO₂ and the production of other harmful greenhouse gases. As a member of RE100, we're committed to obtaining 100% of the electricity we use from renewable energy sources by 2050. Konica Minolta's European headquarters and many subsidiaries already use 100% (or nearly 100%) green electricity, as do three of our factories. 

Resources and the circular economy  

• In 2050, we aim to make our products from more than 90% circulated resources (recycled materials and biomaterials). We will achieve this by: 
  • Increased reuse of plastics. For instance, we use of up to 61% recycled materials in our toner bottles and up to 44% in the casings of our office print devices. 
  • Refurbishment, resale and reuse of products. In Europe, we've established a programme for refurbishment of MFPs according to strict standards; parts of used collected toner bottles and cartridges are refurbished and refilled throughout Europe.  
  • Better recycling and resources usage. In the 2021 fiscal year, 11,200 tonnes of end-of-life office equipment were taken back, 99% of which were recycled. As part of the Clean Planet Program, discarded consumables are collected and recycled across Europe.  

Pollution 

• Cutting pollution by reducing transportation and making it more efficient. Where possible, we're trying to shift transport across Europe from air and road to rail or water. 
  • 90% of our goods transported from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to our main warehouse in Emmerich, Germany, are carried on barges on the Rhine.  
  • 40% of transport from Emmerich to Italy is by rail.

European Environmental Policy 

1. Protect the environment together with our employees, our customers and business partners. 
2. Comply with all relevant legal and other environmental requirements. 
3. Reduce the environmental load especially caused by marketing, distribution and product use. 
4. Protect the climate by using renewable energy or reducing greenhouse gas emissions that derive from our business activities. Those greenhouse gases that cannot be avoided by using renewable energy or reduced shall be compensated by supporting climate offset projects. 
5. Supporting the concept of a Circular Economy by minimising consumption of natural resources and promoting recovery and recycling. 
6. Create and promote new value with regard to products and services that reduce the environmental burden. 
7. Work with business partners that demonstrate implementation of sustainable development practices where possible. 
8. Communicate environmental information effectively and transparently towards our customers and interested stakeholders as well as within our organisation. 
9. Continuously evaluate and improve our environmental performance and processes through the setting of objectives and targets. 
10. Review and audit our business activities an a regular basis to measure our environmental performance and compliance. 

Environment management system (EMS) 

An iterative process 

We've been working to reduce our environmental impact for many years, but are well aware it's an iterative process that doesn't end. We know there are areas where we have the potential to improve, and we're committed to doing so: we view our current activities as a starting point on which to build.